Cycling News

LA City Council Commits to Cyclists
By Stephen Box
10/31/08 - LA's City Council took time at the end of a long session this past Wednesday to approve a motion directing the reorganization of the Bicycle Advisory Committee, a simple act that demonstrates a new commitment to engaging the cycling community in the process. The motion passed unanimously but that didn't stop debate, albeit one-sided and supportive, with Councilman Ed Reyes taking the lead in addressing the needs of cyclists for support from our Transportation and Planning Departments. It was Reyes who originally moved to reorganize the BAC and it was his office who got involved, attending meetings and offering suggestions on how the process could be more inclusive and open to the public. Councilman Bill Rosendahl followed Reyes and held nothing back as he spoke of the City's obligation to provide cyclists with safe access and accommodation, pointing out that he was spending that evening with the Mandeville Canyon Task Force and working with the community to integrate cycling as a viable means of transportation. Rosendahl spoke passionately of the Cyclists' Bill of Rights (Co-Presented by Rosendahl, Garcetti and Greuel and seconded by Reyes and Parks a little over three months ago) and its journey through Committee as it heads to the Council floor, all the while positioning the BAC motion in the context of LA's transportation opportunities. more >

Women's Elite Podium - supporting Breast Cancer Awareness Month
photo © KennedyPhotoWorks.com

2009 SoCal Race Schedule Has been Announced
10/30/08 - The 2009 schedule has been posted. It looks like it will be another great season with a few new additions. For more great events please check out our Fun Ride and Mountain Bike and Cross Schedules. Please check back as new events are added continually throughout the year to the different event schedules as they become available. If you are an event promoter that would like your event listed on our event schedules please contact us for more info.

SoCalCross goes mad with Spooky Cross night race!
photo © SCPS Photo of the Week - Eric Colton

Join the Midnight Express Ride for a Moonlit Ride and Fundraiser for the LACBC
10/30/08 - The Midnight Express Ride is a fundraiser event for the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition - and in its first year, it is already setting out to be an event like no other. On November 15th, 2008, riders will assemble at Union Station in downtown Los Angeles at midnight - and shortly thereafter, on November 16th, just after the last Gold Line train pulls into the station, the riders will begin an epic journey featuring monumental landscapes bathed in moonlight, routes through towns deep in the arms of sleep, and climbs that will take the riders far above the blanket of lights from the city. The route is 50 miles with over 6300 ft in ascent, overnight in mid-November: an incredible odyssey and experience. The route heads north from downtown Los Angeles to La Cañada Flintridge, highlighted by a surreal 3 mile path along the Arroyo Seco River and a few sustained climbs with an average grade of 6% to 8%. Passing through La Canada, the ride continues its escape from the city upwards into the Angeles National Forest, where the roadways are lit only by the 82% full Moon, the sea of stars, and riders' headlights. Along the journey to the Acton/Vincent Grade station, near Palmdale, riders will be immersed in the indescribably beautiful and monumentally encompassing landscape of the Angeles National Forrest, challenged by the steep climbs and the crisp chill of the mid-November weather. Once at Acton/Vincent Grade, the riders are greeted with a warm breakfast, the warmth of sunrise, and an even warmer feeling of triumph. From this location, riders can take the Metrolink trains back to Union Station. This ride is being sponsored by Helen's Cycles, I. Martin Bicycles, Clif Bar, NiteRider, SWRVE Cycling, and more! There are amazing prizes available to riders who gather the most fundraising pledges. The ride is fully supported by amazing volunteers and all riders are guaranteed to have one of the most amazing and unique riding experiences ever!  Registration for this first inaugural year is limited to 60 riders! more info >

Eco-Sportfest '08 5k Cross Run Series Begins 11/2 in Ventura
10/29/08 - 2008 SoCalCross Prestige Series is proud to introduce ECO-SPORTFEST '08: Each event will take place in a scenic park or lake front setting - making it a welcoming atmosphere for the entire family and begins at 8am with a 5k ‘Cross Trail Run on the cyclocross course followed up by a full day of cyclocross racing action! The ‘Cross Run will award 16 category winners each day from Juniors to Masters and award the category champions in the best 3 of the 5 race series. Prizes will be awarded for best overall "IRON CROSSERS" best male/female finishers overall for those competing in both events in the eco-sport series! The Cyclocross Race offers 18 categories from beginners to elite and juniors to masters, and singlespeed to fixed gear. Free beginner clinics and demo cyclocross bikes are available in all sizes. So Cal Nevada Cycling Association provides demo bikes for junior riders. There will be FREE Kids fun run and cyclocross fun race and ride zone throughout the day. Juniors 18 and under race FREE at all Eco-Sport events! A USA Cycling License is required for cyclocross races 10-18 years of age and can be purchased on race day for $10. Annual Junior license is $30 expires 12/31/08. EcoSportFest ‘08 will feature sponsor booths from our 'Green’ sponsors and respective city’s Green Programs. The “Fitness” portion of the expo includes our Kids Races, free beginner cyclocross clinics and sponsor booths promoting healthy lifestyles. more >

Rock Racing’s Sevilla Wins Colombia’s RCN Classic
10/28/08 - Rock Racing’s Oscar Sevilla became the first non-Colombian in 48 years to win the RCN Classic when the Spaniard finished second in Sunday’s final stage individual time trial to secure a 40-second overall victory. Competing for the “Mayor of Tunja” composite team, Sevilla scored his fifth win of the season and his first in an international stage race since the 2006 Vuelta Ciclista Asturias in Spain. “I am particularly happy with this win because Colombia is my second home,” Sevilla said. “The people here make me feel very much at home.” Sevilla took the lead on the opening stage of the nine-day race when his team bested the 13 other squads in the 18-mile (30 km) team time trial. After relinquishing the lead the following day (to teammate Felix Cardenas), Sevilla hovered in the top five of the overall standings until the decisive seventh stage. In that mountainous, 111-mile (179 km) race, Sevilla finished third, 62 seconds behind stage winner Fernando Camargo (Boyaca Lottery), but 31 seconds ahead of previous race leader Mauricio Ortega (UNE). “In the final three kilometers, I sensed that the UNE team was not going well so I attacked,” Sevilla said. Ortega went on to best Sevilla by 13 seconds in the final stage, 21-mile (35 km) time trial to secure second overall. Ortega’s teammate, Juan Carlos Lopez, finished third overall, 2:30 behind. Previous winners of the RCN Classic include Tour de France mountain king Luis Herrera (1982-84, 1986), Tour de France stage winner Fabio Parra (1987) and Tour de France best young rider Alvaro Mejia (1988, 1989) Rock Racing scored 45 victories and 100 podium finishes during the 2008 season.

Rock Racing's Oscar Sevilla (center) is the first non-Colombian to win the RCN Classic.
photo © El Tiempo, Alberto Urrego

Team Type 1 Signs Promising Young Belgium, Re-Signs Calabria
10/28/08 - Team Type 1 has announced the signing of promising young Belgian all-arounder Willem Van den Eynde while re-signing Australian Fabio Calabria, who proved to be a valuable stage racer for the first-year professional team in 2008. Both racers have Type 1 diabetes, a chronic, life-threatening disease in which the body’s immune system mistakenly destroys cells that make insulin. Calabria and Van den Eynde must constantly monitor their blood sugar and food intake while using insulin that is permitted by a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE). Team Type 1 Sport Director Ed Beamon said Calabria’s success in his first professional season provided the team with the confidence it can meet its stated goal to put a racer with Type 1 diabetes in the Tour de France by 2012. “Starting the season when he was only 20, Fabio showed great maturity and discipline and played a significant role in virtually every one of our major international stage race successes,” Beamon said. “We are looking forward to his continued development, and expect to see him on the podium in 2009.” Van den Eynde, 18, is a native of Herentals, Belgium, who has raced for the past five years as a junior. Competing for the DCM-GB Vorselaar squad in 2008, he won five races and scored nearly 20 podium finishes.  “He is really excited about having the support of sanofi-aventis and our other diabetes industry sponsors as he continues to learn how to manage his diabetes.” mVan den Eynde said he admired the accomplishments of Team Type 1 from afar while working with researchers at the University of Brussels who studied how his condition affected his cycling performance. “They (Team Type 1) are an example for all the people – not only for those with diabetes – because they prove that everything is possible,” he said.

Tim Johnson Wins in a Breakaway at Crank Brothers USGP of Cyclocross
10/27/08 - National Champion Tim Johnson takes another win for the Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com team on Sunday in Louisville after a disappointing race the day before. On the second to last lap, Johnson broke free from fellow racer Jesse Anthony, putting 40 seconds between himself and the chase group. He maintained the lead and rolled across the finish line alone.   “I didn’t have the best race yesterday and it was hard to force myself to keep going because I expected so much more,” Johnson said. “It feels good to come out and prove to myself that I was strong enough to do this.”  On the podium with Johnson were Anthony, and fellow teammate Jeremy Powers, who is currently the highest ranking Elite American cyclocross racer in UCI standings. The Derby City Cup is the second round in the 2008 Crank Brothers USGP series.

Jeep 48STRAIGHT Mountain Bike Series Finale
10/27/08 - The men’s Championship Heat of today’s Jeep 48STRAIGHT Mountain Bike Series at The Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo, Calif., featured two of the most acclaimed racers in the history of the sport – Eric Carter of Temecula and Brian Lopes of Laguna Beach – with over 60 years of experience between them. Lopes, with four World Championships and nine National Championships ended up outlasting his friend and rival to win the individual event title, but Carter, with a World Championship, two National Championships and over 30 career victories under his belt, earned the season championship based on this race and previous stops in New Jersey and Utah. The first two rounds saw Carter get past Open Qualifier Logan Binggeli of St. George, Utah, and the surprising Open Qualifier Mike Haderer of Concord, Calif., who pulled the day’s biggest upset by taking down Alpine, Calif.’s Cody Warren, a National Champion and winner of the first Jeep race of the season in New Jersey. In the semi-finals, Carter would have to contend with three-time World Cup Champion Greg Minnaar of South Africa, who won the second Jeep race in Utah. After losing the first heat, Carter stormed back to top Minnaar and earn a spot in the finals. Lopes day was equally brilliant, with wins over Open Qualifier Joey Backus of Mesa, Ariz., National Champion Rich Houseman of Temecula and four-time Australian National Champion Jared Rando. With the season championship in hand, Carter fought off injury to give Lopes a run for his money, but couldn’t get the win. In the consolation heat Minnaar outlasted Rando to capture the final spot on the podium. In the women’s competition, Chandler, Ariz.’s Melissa Buhl put an exclamation point on a brilliant Jeep season that saw her finish second in New Jersey and first in Utah, not to mention earning the U.S. National Championship and the World Championship. Her second place finish in San Luis Obispo earned her the season championship, and further solidified her standing as one of the most dominant racers in the sport.

BMX Hall of Famer Brian Lopes (rt) on his way to winning in SLO.

Tips on Dropping Weight
By: Dotsie Bausch, Empower Coaching
10/26/08 - Cutting weight during race season can be a difficult and sometimes dangerous task. The best-case scenario is going into the season at your goal “race weight.” This is sometimes a challenge though, as off-season big miles are logged, you find yourself very hungry! If you do know your perfect race weight and are sure that this number is your strongest, fastest and most efficient weight (this takes a lot of trial and error), then you CAN get there during the race season with little frustration. I have toyed around with this issue, and have found what I believe to be the best and safest way to loose weight in-season. This is only suggested if you have 5 pounds or under to loose. DO NOT come into race season with more than 5 pounds to loose and think you are going to do it without your results suffering. It is a very delicate balance, and your body needs the correct amount of fuel to recover, especially during stage racing. As a former anorexic, I never want to deprive myself. I am very careful that I always get enough fuel for recovery. I also make sure it is the right type of fuel. Each athlete is different in the type of fuel his or her body needs to recover for the next day. (This also takes experimentation and trial and error). Most importantly, and something I have learned the hard way, is to always do your experimentation in the winter, or off-season.  To drop a few lbs during the season is simple, yet specific. Rule one is NEVER diet BEFORE an event. Your most precious time to store glycogen is 3-4 days prior to the stage race. Eat healthfully and completely, getting adequate rest, and good, easy training. The time to cut back is immediately AFTER the event and the following 3-4 days. Here is the trick, and where you must know your body. Always get in enough fuel to recover, but no more. After an event our bodies are on over drive. Our metabolism is cranking. It is going at full tilt. Taking advantage of this accelerated metabolism is the key. So, the next day after the event wake-up and eat just enough at each meal to feel not hungry, but NOT full. This is also a good time to eat 4-5 small meals a day instead of 3 larger ones. If you want to count calories, then do that. Just take your BMI calories ( the calories your body needs to stay alive on a daily basis in a sedentary state) plus the calories you burn on your bike that day and subtract the amount of calories you take in from food. End the day with a deficit of 500-600 calories. Do this for 4-7 days, depending on how much weight you are trying to loose. (3500 calories equals one pound of body weight). Never do this if you are leading into another stage race the very next weekend. This is only to be done if you have 2-3 weeks before the next event.  Good luck.

Triathletix to Host Black Cat 'Cross on Sunday, Oct 26th
10/25/08 - Yellow leaders socks will be awarded this Sunday to current series leaders, Mark Noble, Carolyn Popovic, Alan Braff, Ian Allen, Jeff Sanford, Dave Hnatiuk, Duncan Reid, Ricky Reidel, Alicia Boland, Robert Weyman and the rest. This week's course will be watered too! Our fine staff of volunteers from Triathletix is primping the course at Entradero Park. Just a mile from the Redondo Beach coast, Entradero Park boasts cool ocean weather and is one of the birthplaces of BMX. See the Fuji 'Cross frame on race day that anyone can win through our drawing by signing up for the race through Sportsbaseonline. The more times you sign up online, the better your odds of winning.  more info >

Clearing the barriers in Palos Verdes.
photo © BackonTrackProductions.com

What do Britney Spears and Lance Armstrong Have in Common?
10/23/08 - Former train wreck and pop star Britney Spears and seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong have more in common than you might think.  How, you ask? Well, they are both on the comeback trail, have tons of fans as well as haters, and both have joined Twitter this past week ... You're wondering, what the heck is Twitter? Twitter is a social media tool that lets you stay connected with people on a personal level and network with others in areas that interest you in real time via the web or phone ... In the last week, Twitter fans have caught a glimpse into Lance’s day to day life, professional life and his preparation in his comeback. Some of his daily activities include picking up the kids, drinking a nice cab, hitting the gym, working on a new time trial position with Steve Hed, riding with Levi and Och and his work with LAF. I find it interesting to see what he’s up to and think it makes him seem a little more human, just like the rest of us ... So far, Lance  has over 1,500 followers, but only follows two. Britney on the other hand, has over 5,600 followers and follows over 1,500, including SoCalCycling.com. (Hey, how can you not follow Britney? We love a good comeback story!) ...  P.S. If you follow SoCalCycling.com on Twitter, we’ll follow you back

SoCalCross Prestige Series #3 - “Storm the Beach”
By: David Sheek, outsideallday.com & Dot Wong SoCalCross.org
10/22/08 - The 2008-09 SoCalCross Prestige Series rolled on and so did the surf on the shorelines of Camp Pendleton Marine Base in Oceanside, CA home to Storm the Beach hosted by Celo Pacific cycling club of San Diego. While the weather was perfect, the high tide conditions and sandy course felt more like a 3k run than a cyclocross race. The early morning racers were definitely dealt a better hand as the low tide left plenty of room for riding on the hard packed shoreline sand, but as the day rolled on riders were running out of real estate and deeper into the surf. Here is a recount from Master’s Women’s Series Leader and winner on the day, Robin MacDonald-Foley (Trek): “Wow...that was a kick a-- race! Carol & I were duking it out the entire time, but I finally did a surge last lap to take her on the beach front half way toward the first run-up. Dino has been great and I am happy to see her make podium. I have been giving her advice, and of course her hub Dave is great support. She thinks 40 is too old to start but look at the ages out there...we never retire....can't!! more >

Watch the Tour de France Course Presentation Live
10/21/08 - For the first time, the presentation of the Tour de France will be broadcasted live on the official website www.letour.fr, where internet users will be able to discover, like the journalists and guests present in the auditorium, the course with the commentary of Christian Prudhomme. The three last winners, Carlos Sastre, Alberto Contador and Oscar Pereiro will also be present, as well as several candidates for the 2009 title. Live coverage will begin at 11:30 AM in France on October 22nd.

Interbike Outdoor Demo: 2009 Cannondale Six Carbon & Campagnolo 11 Speed
By: Frank Sarate, SoCalCycling.com
10/21/08 - After arriving in Vegas at 3:00 am and finally hitting the sheets around 4:00 am we had just enough time to catch a few ZZZZs.  We woke up two hours later puffy eyed and ready to go register for the Interbike Outdoor Demo at Bootleg Canyon. We were invited to attend presentations on Cannondale’s 2009 line and Campagnolo’s 11 speed Gruppo. As we picked up our passes at the Sands Convention Center,  a lone rider had missed his ride to the Demo, so we happily gave him a lift hoping he would make his group ride. It turns out he was a racer from the east coast and knew a lot of the same people Christy knew from when she had raced some of the same events.

Arriving around 7:50 am, we accidentally parked inside the Demo venue. After moving the car and getting settled in, we grabbed some quick eats with a bagel and cup of joe before the presentations at the Cannondale tent. I think Cannondale had the most bikes of all the companies to demo, with tons of road and mountain bikes available in all sizes for the masses.

During the presentation, Cannondale introduced the Six Carbon , which is new in their 2009 line up. Since they are doing away with the Six 13 and the System Six, this bike fills the gap for both serious racers and recreational riders.  The Six Carbon is at a great price point for a full carbon bike and has some of the same features of Cannondale’s flagship road bike, the Super Six. 

The new Cannondale Six Carbon.
photo © SoCalCycling.com

The first thing you notice is the clean lines of the bike and the massive oversized tubes on the downtube and bottom bracket area that houses a BB30. The BB30 is looking like it will be the industry standard in the near future. The multi-shaped top tube adds some weight but makes for sweet looking ride.

Campagnolo also introduced their new 11 speed groupset and had some on hand for some of us to test. Campy had plenty to show off for the 2009 season and will also start another industry standard with the introduction of their 11 speed.  After riding the new 11 speed Campy, I was very impressed with their new technology and how far components have come in the last decade or two.  
More Cannondale Six Carbon and Campy 11 Speed Photos >

   
The new Cannondale Six Carbon outfitted with Campagnolo 11 speed.
photo © SoCalCycling.com

Jeep 48Straight Grand Finale to be Held Oct 24-25 in San Luis Obispo
10/20/08 - American riders are in control of the standings, holding five of the six men’s and women’s podium spots toward the season championship. Leading the pack in the men’s standings is U.S. National Champion Cody Warren of Alpine, CA, who has a win at the first race of the season in New Jersey and a fourth place finish in Utah under his belt. In the women’s standings, reigning World Champion and U.S. National Champion Melissa Buhl of Chandler, AZ, has earned a second place finish in New Jersey and a title in Utah to earn the top spot. Despite her brilliance on the dirt, she holds only a slight lead over former U.S. National Champion Kathy Pruitt of Santa Cruz, who won in New Jersey and placed third in Utah. A number of exceptional American and foreign athletes would be happy to break their way into contention, led by none other than Greg Minnaar, who won in his first-ever Jeep mountain bike competition in Utah proceeded to bring home a title. Also making the list include Brian Lopes of Laguna Beach, CA, and Jared Rando, the always-dangerous four-time Australian National Champion. A new name on the Jeep mountain bike scene to keep an eye on is Olympian Adam Craig of Bend, OR., the reigning U.S. National Champion in Cross-Country and Super D disciplines.  Others gunning for the title include U.S. National Champion Rich Houseman of Temecula; U.S. National Team member Cam Zink of Costa Mesa; 2008 Crankworx Champion, J.D. Swanguen of San Diego; 2007 Crankworx Champion Cam McCaul of Santa Cruz; Kyle Strait of Redlands, and two of America’s fastest downhill racers, Duncan Riffle of Santa Barbara and Chris Van Dine of Park City.  Rounding out the pack is Shaun Palmer, perhaps the most noteworthy extreme sports athlete, who has captured a mountain biking World Championship to go along with five snowboarding World Championships and countless X Games medals under his belt. The event in San Luis Obispo will air on CBS Sports on Nov. 1. Full event info at Jeep48Straight.com.

Suzuki 24 Hours of Moab: Tostado, Kirkland Claim Titles
10/19/08 - Josh Tostado and Jari Kirkland, both Coloradans, became the inaugural galactic champions of 24 Hour Mountain Biking, at the 14th annual Suzuki 24 Hours of Moab, held from 12 noon on October 11th until 12 noon on October 12th, on a blustery weekend in central Utah. The racing was marked by outstanding performances, mighty winds early on, and a determination to have fun, come what may. In the tent city that surrounds the pits and timing tent, more than 2500 racers and support crew endured high winds and blowing sand for the first half of the event, hanging tough and hardy, but everyone's spirits rose when the wind died down on Sunday, in time for the event to end on a high note.Firmly at the top of the list of outstanding rides was Tostado, of Breckenridge, Colorado. "If you want to be the best, you've got to beat the best," he said at the pre-race press conference, October 10. Pushed all the way to the finish line by two-time Olympian and 2003 Moab champion, Tinker Juarez, of Downey, Calif., Tostado overcame one of the greatest names in the sport. But another of the sport's greatest names, Chris Eatough, of Ellicott City, Maryland, withdrew suffering from hypothermia after only eight laps. More >

Contador to Stay with Astana
10/18/08 - After a few tumultuous weeks since Lance Armstrong announced his return to cycling and to riding with Astana, it appears that 2007 Tour de France winner, Alberto Contador, will stay with Astana after all.  "Next year I will continue with the Astana team," said Contador. "I've studied the situation and the alternatives. After meeting with my director, Johan Bruyneel, and having spoken about what has happened in the last months and the articles that have been published, we put aside any tensions between us." Armstrong recently announced that he will be riding the Giro di Italia and may not compete in the Tour de France.

Mountain Bikers Will Benefit From Rule Change in National Parks
10/17/08 - A proposed National Park Service (NPS) regulation change will benefit Americans by improving mountain biking experiences in national parks. The new policy would empower park superintendents to manage trails for bicycles, without sacrificing environmental review or public comment opportunities. "Bicycling is a good fit for many national parks. It's a quiet, low-impact, family-friendly activity that provides a great way to get adults and kids excited about exploring America's most scenic places," says IMBA Executive Director Mike Van Abel. "We're very pleased that the NPS intends to update its regulations to better serve visitors." Expanded opportunities for mountain biking can help energize national parks by attracting new visitors - particularly young ones. According to the Outdoor Industry Association, bicycling is the top gateway activity that gets kids outside and engaged in a variety of outdoor sports. "Visitation numbers are a concern to the park service at all levels and something we are working with our many tourism partners such as IMBA to address. Having worked with mountain bikers on public lands at gateway communities, I know what a great economic impact they can have on a small town," said NPS National Tourism Director Dean Reeder. "In my experience, we can sustain a balance between resource conservation and appropriate, healthy recreational opportunities such as mountain biking.

Columbia Stays Focused for Wide-Open Tour of Lombardy
10/17/08 - Team Columbia are expecting this Saturday’s Tour of Lombardy Classic in Italy  to be anything but predictable. “It’s our last race of the season, but we will have to stay very focussed  because Lombardy is going to be a fast-moving, wide-open race this year,” comments team sports director Valerio Piva. In the one-day races we’ve done earlier this month in Italy [the Coppa Sabatini, Giro D’Emilia and GP Beghelli] you could tell a lot of the big names are quite tired, whilst other Classics specialists like Davide Rebellin will be missing Lombardy completely. That means I don’t think any team will be able to keep control of Lombardy. We’ll have to be sure to get somebody in the early break, too. It might well stay away to the finish. If it doesn’t, then the Madonna del Ghisallo climb [around 45 kilometres from the finish] will be where Lombardy really takes shape. The Ghisallo is like the Cote de la Redoute climb in [the spring Classic] Liege-Bastogne-Liege. It’s still a fairly long way from the finish, so you can’t win the race there, but you can certainly lose it.” Columbia’s two Italian riders, Marco Pinotti and Morris Possoni, are both expected to put on a good performance on Saturday. “Those three one-day Classics earlier this month were useful for keeping the team from losing focus after the World Championships, and Marco and Morris are both very motivated,” adds Piva. “But we’ll be keeping all our options open. We’ll have the same team line-up for both the Giro del Piemonte [on Thursday October 16th] and for the Tour of Lombardy, so we’ll be able to get a better idea in the first event about who’s best placed to get a top result in the second. But Piemonte’s pretty flat and we’ve not got a sprinter, so  we’ll be keeping a close eye on the early breaks in that race too.”

Troupe Racing's Race Report - 24 Hours of Adrenaline
10/16/08 - Fall in the Southern California is the perfect time to do some 24 hour racin'. Hurkey Creek campground in Idyllwild is the venue for the final stop in this traveling series of endurance marathon racing. This event was one that I had been planning on doing for the majority of the summer. I had tailored my training program mid-way through the summer to help prepare. I was fairly confident that it would go well, and it did, but it was much more difficult than I had anticipated. Kevin, Michelle, and myself went up for the event. Kevin raced the 8 hour solo, while I dove in for the 24 hr solo, which really doesnt make sense because its actually 25 hours. But, the race promoter is Canadian, so...... Just kidding Canada - we love you. Kevin had a great race and took 15th in a field of 38. A great performance, especially for his first solo race like this. He rode strong and consistent lap times. It was nice having a teammate to ride with in the early laps to pace off of. After his race, he joined Michelle to help my race support. I couldnt have had a better 1st 24 solo race. Everything worked perfectly. I had no mechanicals, and the bikes were perfect. So much so that my last 3 laps were 100% fun, and I was still looking for little drops and jumps after 20 hours of riding. more >

Tim Vangilder (Troupe Racing) enjoys the daylight at the 24 Hours of Adrenaline.
photo © Michelle Vangilder

Win a SRAM Red Road Gruppo While Helping a Great Cause, Bike MS
10/15/08 - Bike MS is excited to have partnered with SRAM to offer this exceptional prize. For every $10 donation you make to the Bike MS Ride your name will be entered to win a SRAM Red Gruppo. To Enter: Click on "Donate to Win SRAM Red" and follow the donation instructions. Previous donations to Bike MS or to participants do not qualify for this raffle. Once you've donated you'll receive a copy of your raffle ticket(s) via mail so please make sure to provide all of your current contact information. Only 500 Tickets will be sold and the drawing will take place once the tickets are sold out or October 20th, whichever occurs first. You can buy as many tickets as you want and it is tax deductible!! Participate in Raffle >

Storming the Beach at SoCal Cross Prestige Series #3
10/15/08 - Need a little more Euro-style cyclocross in your life? Well, then make sure to come out to the Storm the Beach Cyclocross in Oceanside, CA this weekend. The race, presented by Celo Pacific, is considered by many to be the "Queen Stage" of the SoCalCross Prestige Series. It is patterned after the famous Duinencross race in Koksijde Belgium and takes place on Camp Pendleton's "Red Beach" where the U.S. Marine Corps practice their amphibious landings. On Sunday you'll find racers lugging their bikes up steep seaside bluffs, plowing across ever-morphing sand dunes, and dodging the surf in search of a perfect line as they ride parallel to the Pacific Ocean. Wide tires, low pressure, running fitness, and enough power to leave a rooster tail of sand in your wake are the keys to doing well here. Mixing this tough course with the best cyclocross talent in SoCal will ensure an exciting day of racing. Six different races will provide the opportunity for sixteen different categories of riders to test their skills against the course and against each other. Competitors will be vying for over $2000 in cash and merchandise as well as much coveted points towards the season-long individual and team SCPS standings. In addition to the categorized racing, a free Kids Race will take place at 12:00 pm with prizes going to all participants. There will also be a "Boardshorts and Bikinis" race at 1:30 pm (no USA Cycling license required) with prizes awarded to the riders with the wackiest beach attire. For more information, please see celopacific.org.

It's a Great Time of Year to Start Working with a Cycling Coach
10/14/08 - Are you thinking of taking your riding and racing to the next level? The off season is underway and this is the perfect time of year for athletes to start working with a Cycling Coach for next season. A good coach will take the guess work out of your training and will help you reach your cycling goals through proper training, recovery and diet. For a list of certified coaches please visit our Find a Coach page. Coaches, if you would like to connect with cyclists looking for coaching please contact us for more info.

If It Looks To Good To Be True, It Probably Is
10/14/08 - Once again professional cycling has been rocked by the fallout of selfish riders that think they can beat the system. This time, riders thought they were ahead of the game by using a new form of EPO, called CERA that was previously undetectable by drug tests. It was announced recently that Italians Ricardo Riccò and Leonardo Piepoli, Germany's Stefan Schumacher and Austria's Bernhard Kohl all tested positive for CERA at the Tour de France, after the AFLD produced a blood test that detects CERA ... Something they didn't count on ... Watching the Tour this year, each one of these guys was riding out of their heads, making it look so easy that their performance didn’t even seem real at the time. What’s even more amazing, is their lack of conscience and how proud they are of their juiced up performance, never thinking of the ramifications of their actions for their teammates and staff, sponsors, race organization and the sport as a whole ... Sadly, there are always going to be some bozos at all levels that feel they can beat the system ... I’d just prefer they found another sport.

USA Cycling Announces the 2009 National Racing Calendar
10/13/08 - The 2009 National Racing Calendar has just been released by USA Cycling. It features some exciting new races that will be added for '09 along with some events that have been mainstays on the NRC calendar for many years. Some great news for women racers, is that the Amgen Tour of California will be having a three day Stage Race for women in conjunction with the men's Amgen Tour of California. Also, one of my favorite races to attend, the Dana Point Grand Prix, has been added to the NRC schedule along with the Redlands Classic and Manhattan Beach Grand Prix. Missing from the '09 NRC Calendar are the Sequoia Classic, Garrett Lemire Memorial Grand Prix and Sea Otter Classic, which provide the racers with a nice block of California races to do in the Spring. These are quality events and I'm sure the riders will support them with or without NRC status. Finally, the San Francisco Twilight Criterium, which was a big hit with both the fans and riders a few weeks ago, also made the cut and will hold NRC status next year too. NRC Schedule >

Interbike Urban Legend Fashion and Art Show Video
10/12/08 - Momentum Magazine put on the hip Urban Legend Fashion and Art Show at Interbike, showing that you can ride with style. Fashion Catalogue >

Wilson, Calabria Headline Team Type 1 At Sun Tour
10/11/08 - Team Type 1's Matt Wilson and Fabio Calabria will race on their "home turf" for the first time this season when the Jayco Herald Sun Tour begins Sunday in Traralgon, Australia. Wilson is the race's defending champion, while Calabria is believed to be the first rider with Type 1 diabetes to compete in the event that is now in its 57th year. The two are part of Team Type 1's six-rider squad that will line up for the seven-day, 389-mile (627.5 km) international stage race. Team Type 1 will start with one less rider than the other 13 teams after Chris Jones was unable to make the trip. Jones has been sick since helping Glen Chadwick win the Vuelta Mexico last month. While Wilson will wear bib number 1 as the defending champion, Chadwick might ultimately wind up as Team Type 1's leader. That's because Wilson has been slowed by a knee injury that has limited his training. "I don't know how long I'll be able to go," the 31-year-old said. Wilson considers his three-second victory last year to be one of the crowning achievements of his eight-year professional career that has seen him compete in the Tour de France and win the 2004 Australian road race championship. He successfully overcame Hodgkin's Disease - a cancer that attacks the lymph glands - that threatened to cut his career short in 2001. Chadwick himself fought back from a potentially deadly illness – Epstein-Barr virus – to win the Tour of Arkansas, race in the Summer Olympic Games road race for New Zealand and win the Vuelta Mexico. He also earned the King of the Mountains titles at the Tour de Beauce and the Tour of Utah. This year's Sun Tour be raced predominantly in Gippsland and eastern Victoria. Race organizers say the event – which consists of road races, two criteriums and a time trial on the second-to-last day – was designed to strike the right balance between climbing and time trialing, while still providing the sprinters with opportunities.

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Press Release: The Urban Cyclocross in Palos Verdes is October 12th
10/10/08 - Southern California's favorite cyclocross series, the Urban Cyclocross starts October 12th in Palos Verdes. This popular course is perfect for beginners as well as challenging for the pros. New sponsors this year include the Palos Verdes Bicycle Center who will be on site October 12th. PV Bicycle Center serves the bicycle communities of Palos Verdes, Redondo Beach, Torrance, San Pedro, and Lomita, and is just a scenic 4 - mile drive from the Urban Cyclocross, Palos Verdes course. Urban Cyclocross continues it's famous traditions of yellow series leaders socks, free hot dogs for racers, and SoCal's most sought after series winner jerseys by HotShoppe. This Fall, cross racing is where it's at in SoCal and Urban Cyclocross series is your series of choice. And...you could win a cross frame just by registering. For series and event details visit backontrackproductions.com.

SCNCA Annual Meeting and SoCal Cup Awards Team Up with Spooky Cross Race
10/9/08 - On October 25th, 2008, bring your family and friends to the SCNCA Picnic as you will be treated to a fun day of festivities for the whole family. The day will start off with the Annual SCNCA Board Meeting at 10:00am including the 2009 road race scheduling meeting immediately followed up by a presentation of the SoCal Cup Category Awards and picnic at 1:00pm where the Halloween themed party begins. Everything will take place at Hidden Valley, 8800 Irvine Center Drive, Irvine, CA. We will be awarding SoCal Cup jerseys for both 2007 and 2008 road and track winners. We would like to make sure we try to get the top three riders from each SoCal Cup category. Category winners will receive a personal invitation. Growing in popularity, the sport of cyclocross has taken hold in So Cal. Join in on the racing festivities… as this special day continues with Spooky Cross Night Race Presented by Bike Religion and Team CICLE as part of the SoCalCross Prestige Series. It will be the first ever night race held in So Cal. A FREE Beginner CX Clinic starts at 2:00pm with demo bikes available in all sizes. The SCNCA supports Junior CX with a fleet of smaller bikes. more and schedule of events >

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Jammin' down the hill at the Psycho-Cross.
photo © Marsha Martinez

Rock N' Road Diva Night to Feature Olympian and World Champion Amber Neben
10/8/08 - Ladies, you are invited to Rock N' Road's Diva Night on Thursday, October 23rd at the Rock N' Road in Irvine. They have some great things planned for the evening, including Guest Speaker Olympian and World Champion Amber Neben, a fundraising raffle benefitting the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation, great store discounts, plus the first 30 guests will receive a free goody bag. This sounds like it will be a great night for all to enjoy! more info >

Volunteer Opportunities Available for the 2009 Amgen Tour of California
10/8/08 - Organizers for the 2009 Amgen Tour of California announced that volunteer opportunities for the popular professional cycling road race are now posted online at the official race Web site, amgentourofcalifornia.com.  Volunteers looking for an opportunity to participate in the fourth-annual race can apply online for positions, including course marshal, security, media relations and medical control.  Already considered cycling’s most important and successful road race in the United States, the 2009 Amgen Tour of California will be expanded to cover more than 800 miles over nine days.  The event’s fourth running is scheduled for February 14-22, 2009.  Traveling almost the entire length of California, the race will begin in the state’s capital, Sacramento, and end in San Diego County for the first time.   "Volunteers are essential to the success of the Amgen Tour of California," said Andrew Messick, president of AEG Sports, presenter of the race.  "The support of the communities we travel through has been vital in making the Amgen Tour of California the most successful cycling race in the United States, and with the expanded route in 2009, volunteers will be more important than ever.  It is a great way to take part in an event that will capture the attention of local communities and the world." More than 4,500 volunteers in communities throughout the state participated in last year’s race, making it seamless and successful from start to finish, and establishing it as the largest sporting event in the state of California.  In each of the start and finish cities, as many as 350 local volunteers were recruited to help staff the race.   The majority of volunteers are needed to serve as course marshals, providing support for the 75 professional course marshals that travel with the tour and support the local law enforcement authorities in each city.  

Gnarly Insanities - The Red Bull Rampage Returns
10/7/08 - You must watch this video to see the craziness & mad skills that go down at the Red Bull Rampage.

SoCalCross Prestige Series #2 - Psycho-Cross!
By: David Sheek, OutsideAllDay.com
10/6/08 - The Southern California rainstorms turned out to be a let down as only light showers hit Orange County the night before Race #2 of the SoCalCross Prestige Series. The lack of rain left the course with mainly hard packed dirt and grass, instead of the expectant mud, as riders filled Fairview Park in Costa Mesa, for “Psycho-Cross” presented by Lightning Velo Cycling Club. The start and finish wound its way through grass and a dramatic barrier finish. This fast course was mostly flat with one moderate downhill and a tough uphill run up. The best part was the infamous Kool N Fit whoop zone intertwining riders up, down and around Fairview Park’s popular BMX’y slopes. The entire course, except for the barriers, was rideable. Although, a few riders such as elite mens rider Chance Nobel, Mens 3-4 Eric Christenson, and Elite Men’s single-speeder Bobby Langin, Jr. bunny hopped their way over the single barrier to climb this dreaded Clif Bar hill pushing the pace on the day. Again, the Prestige Series continues to grow with the highest turnout ever in So Cal, especially growth was seen in the Men’s Cat 4 and women’s fields as the largest and saw many new faces to 'cross. more >

The riders work their way up a run up.
photo - SoCalCross Photo of the Week

Elite Track Nationals Wrap Up and Award More National Titles
10/6/08 - USA Cycling awarded the final 10 Stars-and-Stripes jerseys over the weekend as the 2008 USA Cycling Elite Track National Championships concluded at the ADT Event Center Velodrome at the Home Depot Center on Sunday. Colby Pearce (Garmin-Chipotle) claimed a pair of national titles, winning both the 30-kilometer points race and teaming up with Daniel Holloway (Garmin-Chipotle) to win the Madison.  In the points race, Pearce finished with 66 points after lapping the field twice and winning three intermediate sprints to finish ahead of silver medalist Kirk O’Bee (Health Net-Maxxis), who scored 48, and Holloway, 35 who won the U23 national title. In the Madison, Pearce and Holloway scored 38 points to beat Guy East (CRCA) and Austin Carroll (Rock Racing), while the pairing of Ian Moir (Rock Racing) and Daniel Heeley (Southbay Wheelmen) finished a lap down to place third. In the women’s points race, Kacey Manderfield (Verducci Breakaway Racing), 22, won the event to claim both the elite and U23 titles.  Alison Powers (Colavita-Sutter Home) was second with 29 points, while Theresa Cliff-Ryan (Verducci Breakaway Racing) finished third with 27. In the men’s keirin, Jimmy Watkins (Momentum) outsprinted Justin Williams (Rock Racing) and Lanell Rockmore  for the elite title. For Watkins, it was his third title of the week after he also won the match sprint and teamed up with Dean Tracy (Land Rover-Orbea) and Kelyn Akuna (Veritas Cycling) to score a team sprint championship. Women’s sprinters also took center stage over the weekend as Cari Higgins (Proman-Paradigm) completed a sweep of all three events. After her keirin title on Friday, Higgins won the match sprint and teamed up with Liz Reap-Carlson (Verducci Breakaway Racing) to win the team sprint. In the match sprint, Higgins initially qualified second behind Reap-Carlson, but eventually won the national title with two straight head-to-head victories over her in the finals. Eventual fourth-place finisher in the women’s match sprint, Cristin Walker (Northwest Cycling Club), earned the U23 title.

Phinney Wins Individual Pursuit and Third National Title
10/5/08 - Taylor Phinney (Garmin-Chipotle) set a new track record in the men’s 4,000-meter individual pursuit and won his third national title of the week on Friday at the 2008 USA Cycling Elite Track National Championships at the ADT Event Center veldorome at the Home Depot Center. Phinney clocked a time of 4 minutes, 23.514 seconds in the qualifying round to establish the new record before. The men’s and women’s scratch races were also contested as Daniel Holloway (Garmin-Chipotle) and Shelley Olds (Proman-Paradigm) claimed victory. Holloway lapped the field in his 15-kilometer race to secure the men’s title as Kenny Williams (First Rate Mortgage) and Cody O’Reilly (Successful Living) finished second and third overall. In the women’s race, Olds outsprinted Kacey Manderfield (Verducci Breakaway Racing) and Rebecca Quinn (Southbay Wheelmen) in the 15-kilometer contest to take the win. After the men’s match sprint field was pared down to the final four on Thursday, Jimmy Watkins (Momentum) beat Stephen Hill (East Point Track Club) in two straight rides to claim the gold medal while Lanell Rockmore (Gotham Cycling) was awarded the bronze. In the final title decided on Friday, Cari Higgins (Proman-Paradigm) won the women’s keirin.

Cari Higgins on her way to winning a National Title at Track Nationals.
photo © Mitchell Clinton / www.clintonphoto.com

Garmin-Chipotle Wins the Team Pursuit, Cari Higgins Wins 500-Meter Time Trial
10/4/08 - The USA Cycling Elite Track National Championships continued at the ADT Event Center with the team pursuit and women’s 500-meter time trial. The Garmin-Chipotle team, consisting of Taylor Phinney, David Koesel, Daniel Holloway  and Colby Pearce, won the 4,000 meter team pursuit with a winning time of 4:21.047. In the women’s 3,000-meter team pursuit, the Metro VW Cycling Team of Kimberly Geist , Alison Powers  and Shannon Koch  rode a 3:43.959 to earn the national title. SoCal’s Southbay Wheelmen Women’s Team, including Kelli Jones, Morgan Kapp and Jennifer Reither, rode to a bronze medal with a time of 3:51.976. In the 500-meter time trial, Cari Higgins  won the elite women’s national title in 36.781 seconds with Anna Lang finishing 3rd.

SoCalCross Prestige Series “Psycho-Cross” Takes Place This Sunday
10/2/08 - Look for some exciting action as the SoCalCross Prestige Series Points leaders will dawn their Voler leader jerseys and Sock Guy leaders socks on Sunday at Fairview Park in Costa Mesa.  The course consists of a mixture of grass, pavement and dirt. The start and finish winds its way through grass and a dramatic barrier finish. Overall the course is fast, mostly at with one moderate downhill and an equally moderate uphill run up. Hold on as you ride through the infamous Kool N Fit whoop zone. The entire course, except for the course barriers, is rideable. Each lap is approximately 3km in length.  Races are timed circuits on the course based on category. Fairview Park is a family oriented park. It is open and easy to walk around in. It is a great spectator venue--most of the course can be viewed from the start/finish area. Parking is adjacent to the race course. Surf City Cyclery will be providing our mechanical support and also have some demo bikes available. more info >

City of Pasadena Closes Rose Bowl Loop to Traffic During the Rose Bowl Ride
10/2/08 - Last Thursday evening, the City of Pasadena experimented with closing the Rose Bowl loop to traffic for a few hours during the Rose Bowl Ride allowing cyclists and pedestrians alike to enjoy the area without cars. The feedback has been positive from the City of Pasadena, Rose Bowl Operating Committee, cyclists and pedestrians. In the last decade, the Rose Bowl has been become more popular than ever as a recreational facility and a great place to work out in a safe environment after work. On any given day, there are cyclists, runners, walkers, roller bladers, golfers, soccer players and softball players. Last August, the City of Pasadena planned to pass an ordinance where riding two by two would be illegal, therefore making the Rose Bowl Ride illegal. The ordinance was tabled after cyclists and supporters rallied in numbers and persuaded the City Council that this was not the best course of action. This road closure is a step in the right direction in making it safe for all recreational enthusiasts to use and it is great to see the City of Pasadena and RBOC taking positive steps. Hopefully, the road closure can be implemented on a permanent basis making it safer for all. ABC7 Video Coverage >

French Anti-Doping Agency Offers to Retest Armstrong’s Samples
10/1/08 - Who new Lance Armstrong’s comeback would be so challenging?  The guy just wants to ride his bike and get his cancer message out there on a global scale. But wait ... it’s not that easy. For every supporter, there is a skeptic that would like to see him remain in retirement mode, dating starlets, running marathons and hanging out with BFF’s Matt and Jake.  First, Greg Lemond crashed his Interbike press conference, derailing the Global Cancer Initiative message and now the French are turning on him left and right, with former the Tour de France Director Jean-Marie Leblanc questioning his return and the French Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD) offering to retest his ‘99 B samples. Given the reputation of the Châtenay-Malabry lab this doesn’t sound like a good offer, even if one has nothing to worry about ... Maybe retirement would be less stressful.

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SoCal Interscholastic Cycling League Gets Off to Flying Start
10/1/08 - The cycling industry has been quick to back the fledgling Southern California Interscholastic Cycling League (SoCal League), which has made rapid progress since its August 4th announcement. Matt Fritzinger, founder and director of the NorCal High School Mountain Bike Racing League, and now director of the SoCal League, commented “It’s amazing what has happened since our original announcement and launch of the SoCal website. So many teachers, potential coaches, parents, and students have contacted us. Because of the newly formed and enthusiastic founding committee, and receptive bloggers, the word has spread fast. Last week while scouting venues for camps and races, we kept running into mountain bikers of all ages that already knew about it. With this kind of growth potential we are grateful to have so much industry support.” Easton Sports Development Foundation II provided the seed money for the new eague, and other companies have not hesitated to come to the party.Working closely with Matt Fritzinger, the SoCal League president, Quintin Easton, has already gathered a founding committee, and 15 prospective teams have been identified so far, as well as one high school team – the Rim of the World High School – that already existed and had been preparing to join the NorCal League! The eleven-member committee contains a wealth of talent and experience, and in addition to Easton, Tanklage and Craft, includes: Dorothy Wong, Tonya Bray, Robert Herber, Stephanie Gaudreau, Anna Lang, Cici Arenas, Matt Gunnell and Patrick O’Kane. This team will help the SoCal League get off the ground with its inaugural five-race cross-country series slated to begin in January 2009.

Alberto Contador's pink Trek from the Giro di Italia was on display at Interbike.
photo © SoCalCycling.com
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